Description

Recently, endogenous agonists for the mu-opiate receptor, were first isolated from bovine brain [Nature,386, 499 (1997)]. These are endomorphin-1; Tyr-Pro-Trp-Phe-NH2, and endomorphin-2; Tyr-Pro-Phe-Phe-NH2. The isolation of relatively large amounts of endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2 from human brain cortex has also reported [Peptides,18, 1635 (1997)]. The immunoreactivity for endomorphin was also detected in rat brain near the mu-opiate receptor containing neurons, but the molecular form of the rat peptide has not yet been elucidated [Peptides,18, 1641 (1997)]. These observations may be considered to indicate that endomorphin-1 and 2 are common mu-opiate agonists in mammals. In addition to the originally discovered mu-opiate agonistic function, these peptides have been reported to show hypotensive activity and Ca2+ channel current inhibitory activity [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.,235, 567 (1997)]. Endomorphins would be useful for the study of pain perception together with some other biological functions in the body.

Research Areas for Endomorphin 1 and 2

Find related products by research area and learn more about each of the different research areas below.